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Tipaimukh
Politics in Bangladesh
Joe Fleishman
July
20, 2009:- Tipaimukh Dam is now the hot topic in Bangladesh
politics. The heat of Tipaimukh is not restricted only inside
Bangladesh but also India is feeling the flame. There is
strong opposition against Tipaimukh dam from Inside the
India. Dr. R.K. Ranjan in his article mentioned that Tipaimukh
dam is a death trap for the indigenous people.
Tipaimukh
project is not something very new. It´s a very old
project. Necessity of such dam was first though in 1954.
At that time "Assam government requested the Central
Water Commission and the Planning Commission to identify
a suitable location where the monsoon waters of the Barak
could be impounded to form an artificial flooding zone."
-as per Dr. R.K. Ranjan said.
"The
Central Water Commission (CWC) submitted their report in
1984, which proposed the construction of the Tipaimukh high
dam at a cost of Rs. 1,078 cores." Dr. Ranjan Singh
said.
So it´s
a long-standing process. Its upshot is not without question.
But why from out of the blue Tipaimukh became so hot? Why
India-Bangladesh relationship experienced little bitterness
on Tipaimukh? It is surprising but understandable.
Some political
parties in Bangladesh use anti-Indian sentiment for there
politics. Sometimes this emotional motivation works magically.
Some suspect, opposition is heating it up in order to regain
momentum from their shocking election defeat.
Main opposition
BNP ruled the country from 2001 to 2006. During this time
they met several times with India in Joint River Commission
-JRC. In 2003 Bangladeshi Water Resource Minister M. Hafiz
Uddin represented Bangladesh delegate in JRC. Two days long
35 JRC meeting ended up without any dispute. PTI reported
"Two ministers signed the agreed minutes of the meeting".
PTI has
also reported "Addressing a joint press conference,
Sethi said the river linking project was among the 'miscellaneous
items' that came up for discussion.
The minister
said there was no difference of opinion on the agenda fixed
by the two sides and the discussion were held in a cordial
atmosphere and in a spirit of give and take.
On the proposed
Tipaimukh project in the north-east India assured Bangladesh
that if there would be any diversion of water it would be
done after due consultation with Dhaka."
So overall
analysis is not suggesting BNP or Bangladesh government
had any dispute on Tipaimukh. Rather they had mutually agreed
the issues which include Tipaimukh.
Now after
six years BNP made a 180 degree turn. Denying any discussion
on Tipaimukh with India and signing agreement is far beyond
imagination.
Now the
question is what is the meaning of these sorts of unusual
falsehood? Undoubtedly politics. Denying an agreed matter
will mount pressure on the Government. This issue will add
up fuel on some anti-Indian sentiment – certainly this
is what they are looking for.
When Indian
High Commissioner Mr. Pinak Ranjan Chakravarti presented
some information on the previous discussions, BNP demanded
immediate withdrawal of him. Provoking words were about
to cooling down their warm relationship. However, Bangladesh
Premier Sheikh Hasina met with her Indian counterpart while
both were in NAM meeting. Both the nation agreed to work
on side by side to resolve any dispute. Indian Prime Minister
assured her that India will not do anything that is harmful
for Bangladesh.
This should
conclude the confusion but politics does matter. BNP is
still looking for other ways with the same issue - to take
maximum advantage by confusing people.
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